Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-10-13
Bill Nye in Art Circles.
New York World.

Bill Nye in Art Circles.
New York World.
On Thursday, the 18th inst, the law
will go into effect i'll this city prohibiting
the sale OF genuine oil paintings" by
means of a smooth salesman, a strong
gas-jet and a tin reflector. Genuine oil
paintings are of two kinds, viz: Those
painted by hand and those painted by the
day. The latter find a ready sale in New
York to people who claim that Rembrandt
and Bierstadt have always asked fancy
prices for their work.
I dropped in yesterday at one of these
great sacrifices by gaslight, and was sur
prised to see real art go begging in the
midst of wealth. In this stOreroOm were
pictures varying in size, from piece of
cloth up to one as large each way as the
plot for tragedy. There was one little
painting of "Diana" surprised by New
York artist. I didn't blame her much. 1t
was very small painting, done on piece
of celluloid no larger than poker chip,
if I may be permitted to use compari-
son that is extremely distasteful to me.
Another small painting, "The Landing of
Columbus" was on the reverse side of a
half dollar. The reverse side of a half
dollar is the side that you turn up while
matching with a man who most always
wins.
| ventured to remark, as [ looked at
this little triumph of art on small scale
that Columbus was always regarded by
Americans as courageous man, but
when they stopped to consider that he
landed at place where cigars are Is
cents piece, and that he landed on a
half-dollar, it seemed to me that few
resolutions of respect would not be out
of place.
A gentleman who stood near me, and
who was there to buy some art gems for
the dining room of railroad eating
house, said that painting the landing of
Columbus on half-dollar was no great
triumph in that line. He knew man in
Nova Scotia who painted marine view
or the deluge on the handle of an UNI
brella, and another man, who was a neigh
Dor of his, painted a very life-like picture
of Europe on an empty stomach. He
said it was as good front view of Europe
as he ever saw.
At this point salesman excused him
self, and heard him holding consulta-
ton with his telephone in the back part
of the room during which he asked gen
tleman named Ward Siland if he
hadn't found himself short or low-sot
man with large, deep red nose, and a
tall, sad-looking party who seemed to be
in search of place iAto which he could
weep.
Tbe hour for the sale having now ar
rived the gas was turned on and the sac
rifce began. The eating house man and
I ron Stituta6 the aaoar crnu6 The ric-
lures, one after the other, were set up on
an easel SO that bunch of gas-jets, with
the aid of a bright tin reflector, would
cast soft effulgence over the picture
and naturally make man want it.
The first slaughter consisted of a nice
red picture by De Gaumer. It repl esent-
ed an Autumn scene just in the act of
putting on it's heavy red flannel ander-
brush for the winter.
Nov, there," said the eating house
man to me, sis rare picture"
eyes" said I with charming naivete
and sangfroid, sit looks pretty rare and
is not what you would call we'll DONE"
He laughed heartily and I gave him a
cigar, with loose Mother Hubbard wrap
per and inlaid filler, warming him to be
careful when he bit the end off not TO let
WIG iAoiSAO VI uAO OiSol pm Out'
he then began to discuss the works of
art as they were put up, and other
people dropped in to bid on the pictures
and enjoy themselves.
"Here," said the urbane auctiOneer
with no collar or conscience" is reel oil
painting. You can wash it, as I will
show YOU" He then calmly spit or spat
(whichever would look best in PRINT on
the picture and washed the face of ma
room, rustic maiden in blue shoes, with a
greenish dog near her that seemed to be
mortified into bunch of violet grass.
He then wiped her features with the ell
bow of his shirt-sleeve, wiped this sleeve
on the other, then that one on one leg of
his pantaloons, and that leg on the other,
thus giving Woodworth's method Of IL
Illustrating the first, second and third d.
lutions of homeopathy. 'sHere is pic
ture done by De Gaumer IA oil. It
would ordinarily cost $3.50. The frame
alone would cost $50. What do I hear
for the p1cture, frame and altogether?n
"Will you have it sent to my address if
buy it," asked the eating house man.
Yes sir. Boxed and shipped any
where.''
"How about repairing tho read that